Only 3 Moulton owners turned up in Marbury Country Parks’ car park, with ominous clouds hovering above us. As a county, Cheshire is legendarily flat but we seemed to ridden all of the steepest roads in the county during the course of the day, Terry on his newly re-built ’64 F frame experienced some difficulties during the day with the up-hill sections.

We pedalled through the country park to see the Anderton boat lift – a massive structure built in 1875 to transport canal barges up & down the 50 feet between the river Weaver and the Trent & Mersey canal. Originally used for transporting barges of salt, nowadays it’s mainly used by pleasure craft.

After a few moments looking at this engineering masterpiece the rain started..... thankfully it was the lightest of showers and finished within minutes. We rode off into Northwich town centre, stopping briefly at Sainsbury’s cash machine so we could purchase lunch later in the day. Heading south we picked up the Weaver Navigation, passing the rock salt mine and enjoying the well maintained riverside path.

We then left the river climbing up a gravel pathway we reached the quaint little village of Moulton – both pubs were shut; however I couldn’t resist photographing our bikes whilst there.

Three Moultons at Moulton, from left to right - Esprit, ’64 F frame, TSR with a Rohloff.

We rode around but no one stopped us to as about the bikes; are they that used to Moulton bikes in their village? Plan “A” was to lunch in Moulton but as we had arrived sooner than expected (pubs not open) we elected to lunch further on along our route.

Leaving the village, along the gravel pathway down to the Weaver Navigation then crossing over it on the top of the lock gates. After a while on minor roads we picked up the Whitegate Way at the eastern end, a former rail line running through some interesting countryside.

Most of the line is on an embankment so the views were expansive, the trees lining the route were now providing shade from the blazing sun. We left the Whitegate Way at the western end and headed up a road, a steep and long climb, no one spoke.

We re-grouped at the top, Delamere Park, where Terry said good-bye and departed to visit his sister “just around the corner”. David & I pedalled on to the Hare & Hounds at Crowton for a bite to eat and some re-hydration. After lunch we carried on north, picking up the River Weaver and then followed it along the riverbank until we reached Acton Bridge.

Back on the roads we climbed up to Little Leigh, over to Comberbach and then back to Marbury Country Park.

29 miles, a light shower, slight wind, lots of sun, quite a few inclines, a friendly lunch stop, tools stayed in their bags, an enjoyable time was had by all (well maybe not during the climbs!) and as ever good company.

We four intrepid riders met up in Chorlton and rode off up the Fallowfield loop line (ex-railway track), along the Ashton canal to the National Cycling centre for a cup of coffee in the café. We can highly recommend the grey comfy seats; it’s where the teams & their management eat, the food is good!

After a brief rest we set of again along some minor roads to join the Rochdale canal and followed it until forced to leave by the M60. To cross the M60 motorway there is a tunnel for the boats & a bridge for the pedestrians, cyclists etc, we re-joined the canal and carried on up to Middleton Junction where we transferred to the roads again.

Passing the JW Lees brewery we pedalled on to the centre of Middleton and then up the steep hill at Langley, pausing to re-group outside the church at the top of the hill. We spotted a spelling mistake, see photo. Passing this "chuirch" we knew the rest of the day was going to be a lot easier as we were at the highest point of the ride so everything else would be down hill for the rest of the day.

Rolling down the hill we passed through the Langley housing estate, a loose stone path down the side of the golf driving range and along a deeply pot holed lane into the village of Simister for lunch. We stopped in the Same Yet Inn, a JW Lees pub; an odd name caused by a miss heard comment to a sign writer some decades ago and has been re-iterated ever since. After our re-hydration and carvery meal we pedalled through the village before revelling in almost 3 miles of decent through an ever-decreasing urban landscapes, farm land and finally into woodlands in the Irwell valley.

We had joined National Route 6 and headed south through the woods to Agecroft; where there was once a coal pit, power station and block works all next to each other – how sensible, but sadly no more. Back on the roads heading towards Manchester city centre following NR6 we were diverted due to re-construction works on the banks of the Irwell so we went into the Castlefield basin an old canal junction & goods interchange – coal from the west along the Bridgewater canal, woollen goods from the east along the Rochdale canal and cotton from the ships in the Manchester ship canal.

We travelled along the Bridgewater canal for a mile then got back onto the river Irwell, passed the re-construction works, at the point where the river becomes the Manchester ship canal. Passing along the graffiti wall (a council approved site for artists to spray their work) and onwards into Media City. We all paid our respect to the Blue Peter Garden, reliving our respective childhoods with this re-located, shrunken gem.

There had been a closed road cycling event in Manchester that came in handy; we were the last cyclists across some busy roads around the Manchester United football ground just as the cones & diversion signs were being collected by the council workers.

A few more miles on minor roads and we were back at the start.

33 miles, no rain, slight wind, one hill, coffee stop, lunch stop, an afternoon of free wheeling and light pedalling, our tools stayed in their bags, good company and we all enjoyed ourselves.

At 1 o'clock, the gates close and lunch can be had at one of the many eateries in the town.

On Saturday evening, we will meet at The Swan Hotel, Church Street, from 7 p.m. for an evening meal.

On Sunday, there will be 2 rides, a Family Ride of 10 miles along the canal and a 25 mile ride, leaving from St. Margaret’s Hall at 10 a.m.
Following the rides, we will meet back at The Swan for lunch.